University Star

Jesus Montelongo, political science senior, works out his triceps Jan. 21 at the Student Recreation Center. Students have turned out in greater numbers since the New Year.

January brings an increase in students to the Student Recreation Center interested in fulfilling their fitness-related New Year’s Resolutions.

According to Ryan McAfee, assistant director of informal recreation, the center sees about 3,000 more students than usual per week in January, or about 500 more per day. Though the number of students visiting the recreation center spikes in January, their attendance decreases in the following months.

McAfee said an average of 8,370 students visited the recreation center each week in January 2012. The number fell to 7,844 students per week in February 2012 and 6,147 per week in March 2012.

McAfee said September is the busiest month of the year, when students are returning to school, followed by January.

“We’re definitely busier (at the beginning of the year),” said Miles Sedillo, finance junior and employee at the recreation center. “We’re filling out more paperwork, more memberships.”

Sedillo said recreation center employees have had to prepare for the spike in attendance seen in January.

“We have a lot more employees per shift,” Sedillo said. “We make sure all our equipment’s filled and everything’s clean, especially with the flu season right now.”

Though students are eager to exercise at the beginning of the year, Sedillo said there is always a decline in people visiting the recreation center as the semester progresses on, which is something frequent visitors are aware of.

New Year’s resolutions may have an impact on the number of students visiting the recreation center in January, but Sedillo said it is not the only time of year employees see an increase in attendance. The weeks before spring break are also a popular time for students to visit the recreation center, he said.

Ciara Knight, communication design junior, said she has seen a definite increase in students visiting the recreation center this month.

“It’s kind of packed at the moment, but I think in a couple of weeks it’ll probably die down,” Knight said.

However, the influx of students does not inhibit the smooth operation of the recreation center, Knight said.

“Even when it was crowded, (students) could find machines,” Knight said.

Marco Lozano, international relations sophomore, said the recreation center is “really crowded” this time of year.

“Everyone thinks that they can try to work off their holiday weight,” Lozano said. “If they didn’t pig out in the first place, they wouldn’t have to be there. It’s always been crowded right after the holidays, but it gets better. People’s resolutions start to fail and things go back to normal.”

Lozano said he is going to the recreation center to stay fit, not because of any new year’s resolutions.

“It’s just because I’m trying to stay healthy, and a lot of the time new year’s resolutions don’t follow through,” Lozano said. “I think you should just follow your routine and not make any changes.”